Once a week, ex-rulers Eberhard Diepgen (CDU) and Walter Momper (SPD) discuss topics that move the capital in the BZ Berlin. Today it’s about a memorial for the recently deceased Airlift hero Gail Halvorsen.
Eberhard Diepgen: Yes, he made a special mark
Are memories of the Airlift fading? I’m afraid of that. In view of the Ukraine crisis and the search for peaceful solutions in the conflict with today’s Russia, that would be a good idea.
At that time, 1.5 million tons of coal were flown to Berlin to cover the energy needs, almost half a million tons of food. At that time, a special sign of reconciliation between Western democracies and the former enemy Germany emanated from Berlin.
However, the annual event at Platz der Luftbrücke degenerates more and more into the obligatory wreath-throwing on anniversaries. With the liquidation of Tempelhof Airport, my pessimistic view of this part of Berlin’s culture of remembrance has increased.
A monument to the candy bomber hero would counteract this. And Gail deserves it because he made a special mark of sympathy with his little parachutes and the candy for the children in the cut-off city.
Of course he was modest, would never have asked for a monument for himself. He thought of the more than 100 dead of the airlift, but a special honor from him would not be a disparagement of the other heroes and also the victims of the airlift. He has set a special accent. The school in Zehlendorf, named after him, is firmly anchored in the city.
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But it is not anchored in the consciousness of the whole city. Even the Federal Cross of Merit that was awarded to him – who knows? – is no argument against further honoring according to the practice of the Order.
The nature of a memorial or a clearly visible commemorative plaque in the entrance hall of the old airport may be debated. Unfortunately, that usually takes forever in Berlin. It would also underscore the German-American friendship to which Berlin owes so much and which recently has not seemed steadfast.
Walter Momper: Yes, this would be a good place of remembrance
A memorial to Gail Halvorsen would be a nice reminder of this American pilot who was so devoted to the people of Berlin and especially the children.
It would be better than the usual street naming and could be used to take children there to tell them the story of the Candy pilot and thus the story of the Airlift. So it would also be a good place to remember.
It’s rare enough that someone shows a sign of human attention beyond their actual professional task. Pilot Gail Halvorsen did that. He dropped chocolate packets out of his plane on his approach to Berlin during the Airlift period.
It was a great joy for the children who got little in those lean times. And certainly no chocolate, because there was no such thing.
Gail Halvorsen’s affection for our city remained thereafter. He returned to Berlin as the airport commander for Tempelhof and has always expressed his friendship and affection for the Berliners.
Even in old age, he returned to Berlin several times for the big airlift commemorations. It stands for the fact that our occupiers became friends. He himself was a great friend of the Berliners and always expressed that.